Fender Play Live: Thurston Moore Playlist

Fender Play Live is a weekly live show that brings in a diverse array of artists and experts to dive into Fender gear, teach new techniques and styles, and inspire players of all levels.

While the program typically takes place every Wednesday, this week's edition is a special Saturday broadcast featuring a very special guest.

That guest is the great Thurston Moore, an influential artist helped define the sound of a generation and redefined how we think of a rock guitar as a tool for expression. As a founder of Sonic Youth, he rose out of the no wave art and music scene in New York and helped the band evolve into an internationally acclaimed guitar rock juggernaut.

Throughout his career with Sonic Youth and further endeavors with Chelsea Light Moving and the Thurston Moore Group, Moore became synonymous with the Fender Jazzmaster - often played with more offbeat items like a drum stick or screwdriver.

He'll explore his technique and setup in this edition of Fender Play Live, along with co-host Nick Reinhart, a artist also known for his experimental approach to the guitar.

Don't miss any of the action by adding the YouTube video to your watchlist here. You can also see it on Fender's official Facebook and Twitter channels.

Make sure you tune in, because we are giving away a pristine Vintera '60s Jazzmaster Modified with a Sunburst finish to one lucky viewer. All you have to do is enter here (must be over 18) and watch the show live. The winner will be randomly selected during the live stream.

To accompany Fender Play Live, we compilee a special curriculum commemorating Moore and the Jazzmaster for every level of player to follow through along through Fender Play. And if you're not a Fender Play subscriber yet, click here for a free trial.

Thurston Moore Crash Course: Alternate Tunings & Distortion

Course: Drop D Alternate Tuning

Thurston Moore is no stranger to using alternate tunings on his guitar, and Drop D is one of the more popular entry points into that world. Drop D is popular in heavier music like metal and rock, and it's also great for making power chords a breeze.

Learn how to tune in Drop D in this lesson.

Course: D Standard Alternate Tuning

D standard tunes your guitar down an entire step, making vibrato and bends easier, in addition to pairing well with singers who have deep voices. It's also great for rock and metal!

Find out about D standard tuning here.

Exercise: Riff with Distortion

Distortion is a gain-based effect that will give your tone some growl. If you add it to a simple riff, like in this lesson, it will allow you to tap into your inner rocker.

Course: Tune Down a Half Step

By lowering your strings a half step, you arrive at the accidental, which are the sharp and flat notes. This tuning will add more sinister depth to your sound. So, if you want to use Eb standard tuning, you could also consider it D# standard. It can also make certain riffs easier to play.

Tune down a half step with this video.

Course: Drop C Alternate Tuning

Tuning to Drop C means you're extending your guitar's range by two whole steps on the low string and one whole step on the other strings. (Ed. note: This may require a neck adjustment, heavier strings or raised action.)It's a useful tuning because you can extend the range of standard chords and make open-string chords and power chords with one finger.

Take the course in Drop C tuning in this lesson.

Course: Open E Alternate Tuning

Open E tuning lends itself well to fingerstyle plaing with open strings. In order to achieve this, tune the A and D strings up a whole step to B and E, and the G string up a half step to G#. You've heard this tuning on songs like "Gimme Shelter" by the Rolling Stones and "Just Got Paid" by ZZ Top.

Find out about Open E tuning here.

Course: Open G Alternate Tuning

Finally, you can open up even more horizons with Open G tuning. This is another alternate tuning that's great for fingerstyle playing. To get there, tune the low E, high E and A strings down a whole step. You've heard this tuning on songs like "Little Green" by Joni Mitchell and "Twice as Hard" by the Black Crowes.

Incorporate Oopen G tuning into your playing vocabulary with this video.

For more Fender Play Live, go to Fender’s YouTube, Facebook and Twitter channels. And if you're not a member of Fender Play yet, click here for a free trial.